US 11,988,595 B2
Method and device for the detection and monitoring of surface fouling
Thomas Schafer, San Sebastian (ES); and Iliane Rafaniello, San Sebastian (ES)
Assigned to UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA, Vizcaya (ES)
Appl. No. 17/059,915
Filed by UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA, Vizcaya (ES)
PCT Filed May 31, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/064190
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 30, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/229238, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 5, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 18382376 (EP), filed on May 31, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0270723 A1, Sep. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. B01D 65/02 (2006.01); B01D 61/14 (2006.01); B01D 65/10 (2006.01); C02F 1/00 (2023.01); C02F 1/44 (2023.01); G01N 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 17/008 (2013.01) [B01D 61/145 (2013.01); B01D 65/02 (2013.01); B01D 65/109 (2022.08); C02F 1/008 (2013.01); C02F 1/444 (2013.01); B01D 2321/16 (2013.01); C02F 2303/14 (2013.01); C02F 2303/16 (2013.01); C02F 2303/20 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for detecting surface fouling comprising:
a) providing a first surface arranged to contact a flow of foulant;
b) providing a sensor system comprising at least one surface sensitive sensor unit, wherein a deposition material is deposited on said surface sensitive sensor unit, wherein the deposition material presents a second surface arranged to contact a flow of foulant;
wherein the second surface presents all physico-chemical properties of the first surface which at said first surface are responsible for foulant accumulation;
wherein said surface sensitive sensor unit is suitable for generating signals in response to foulant accumulation in an amount of from 1 ng/cm2 to 0.1 mg/cm2 at the second surface; and
wherein the sensor system is connected to a data acquisition and monitoring system suitable for monitoring said signals generated by said surface sensitive sensor unit;
c) subjecting the second surface to a flow of foulant;
d) monitoring said signals generated by said surface sensitive sensor unit and detecting an amount of foulant of from 1 ng/cm2 to 0.1 mg/cm2 accumulated at the second surface; and
e) deeming an amount of foulant accumulated at the first surface to be a reproduction of the amount of foulant accumulated at the second surface detected in step d), should said first surface be subjected to the same flow of foulant to which the second surface is subjected to in step c);
wherein the first and second surfaces are inorganic surfaces, or wherein the first and second surfaces comprise an organic polymer;
wherein the first surface is larger than the second surface; and
wherein the first and second surfaces are independent from each other.